CUNY cannot become a leading global university system without addressing the hidden housing challenges faced by its students, faculty, and staff. CUNY tuition may be comparatively low, but the New York housing situation undercuts the value proposition. With very few dormitories and an overheated housing market, CUNY’s 250,000 students struggle to find safe, comfortable, quiet, and stable places to study. The new mayoral administration, working in partnership with the state, could help CUNY address longstanding needs.
A 2025 survey found that 38 percent of CUNY students face housing insecurity, including difficulties paying their rent and heat, and many live in overcrowded conditions. Six percent of CUNY students reported a period of homelessness in the previous year. These dire conditions likely contribute to CUNY’s low degree completion rate.
It isn’t just CUNY students suffering. While we lack comparable data on the housing situation of full-time staff and faculty, we know just how difficult it can be to live and raise a family in the New York region. CUNY salaries, despite upgrades in the last contract and affordable health insurance, haven’t kept up with regional housing prices. Top candidates are often discouraged by how little their salary delivers.
Part-time adjunct instructors at CUNY, who conduct the bulk of institutional teaching at an even lower salary level, and often without health or pension benefits, are in an even more difficult situation.
There are many ways that the CUNY administration and the new Mamdani administration can improve the lives of CUNY faculty. The first step in a positive direction would be the promised rent freeze or a minimal annual increase, which would reduce the burden on the CUNY community residing in stabilized housing. While there is a risk of disinvestment and abandonment due to a rent freeze, the city and state have tools to address this issue, including the purchase of failing properties for conversion to cooperatives or below-market affordable housing.
The administration is also taking steps to ensure housing is safe by cracking down on the worst landlords. Ahmed Tighani, a Hunter planning grad, is now the Commissioner of Buildings charged with this effort. Renovating NYCHA, the public housing authority, is also key for CUNY, as many students and staff live in deteriorating conditions in public housing.
Large-scale construction of CUNY dormitories would enable thousands of students to move from crowded homes and potentially cover the cost of campus living through financial aid programs.
CUNY is a large city landowner. Many campuses outside Manhattan have significant open spaces–such as parking lots–that could be converted to dormitories. Many office buildings near the Manhattan campuses that are no longer viable for commercial use are ripe for conversion to apartments or co-living, such as co-housing that integrates private apartments with shared kitchens and community facilities.
Many universities, including New York University and Columbia, offer faculty housing at reduced rates, which has been excellent for recruitment, retention, and comfort. CUNY should also consider constructing faculty and staff housing on its campuses to relieve pressure on surrounding neighborhoods, provide housing stability, and better compete for future faculty and staff. As with student dorms, these could be a future revenue source for CUNY.
These housing types can be financed through a mix of future rents, state and city capital funds, pension funds, and other sources. The dorms would also be a future revenue source for CUNY, rather than enriching landlords. CUNY would work with powerful agencies such as DASNY, HPD, and NYSHCR.
Dorms for students, faculty, and staff on campuses like Queens and Brooklyn College would also provide a liveliness often lacking after school hours, making campuses more vibrant neighborhood anchors.
CUNY should also partner with the city and state administrations to push for workforce housing development in both the outer boroughs and the surrounding suburbs. Workforce housing could be a major source of housing for CUNY faculty and staff, particularly larger apartments for growing families.
Workforce housing is common nationwide and, as a proposition, could override anti-housing sentiment in many neighborhoods. In the city, a workforce-housing zoning overlay would allow workforce housing to be built “as of right” in neighborhoods that have pushed back on density. There are also opportunities for workforce housing on NYCHA sites.
Nicholas Bloom is a professor of urban policy and planning at Hunter College. He recently served on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s transition team advising on housing policy.
Published: January 27, 2026
